SALARIES CUT.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1922, Page 1

SALARIES CUT.

TEACHERS’ PROTEST.

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WELLINGTON, Jan. 19. The following letter has been sent by the Secretary of the New Zealand Educational Institute to the Minister of Finance: —“I have the honour to refer to the remarks made by you in j the House of Representatives, when introducing the retrenchment proposals, particularly those in connection with the £300,000 added to the salaries of the teachers last year. I desire to place it on record that that increase was not given to the teachers as a cost of living bonus, but as a means oi' reducing the inequality between the of teachers and tluve of other service*. No mention of a cost i f living bonus, or a conditional reducfion, was made by either side in the .discussion o,f tin? subject, which accounts for the acceptance by the teaoh;.lS of a £35 increase, when the other so:vh.es received £SO. With regard to lh p Hecessities of the times, the teachers arc ms willing as others to accept a fair share of the common bmde.i. •mi H seems clear, from a preliminary c ..- ; -.•uination of the proposals, that Uc-

:rduetien indicated will, except in snipe, i increase the difference in m- [ nmnevation of the services to the furi fi. or detriment cf the ah ady-nnattrac-i five teaching profession. Tt will be | more difficult than ever to replace tire, j battalions of uneertifieated reaehets, ■ with those who are trained for their work, with the result that the standard- ’ of national education, which is a 1 Ii " K V ! ard of national efficiency, '.rill bo lowcr- ; ed. It may be taken for granted that these who offer themselves for the ser- ! vico in future will he those only who j are actuated more by the missionary I spirit flf a desire to serve the eomj munity than by a desire to benefit j themselves.”

HON PARR’S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, Jan. 19

ft was learned to-day that no docision has yet been come to regarding bow the retrenchment proposals are to affect the teachers. , l:i will he a matter lor very care-

j.j and anxious consideration for myii.df and the Director of .Education,” aid uhe Minister of Education. “It onluiot possibly he achieved by a flat rate, as in the ease of the salaries under £SOO in the general public service, as so many different .factors in the teaching profession have to be taken into account. 1 shall endeavour, ir tla Hill goes through, to :;eo that the belief the decrease is placed on the shoulders able to bear it best, and 1 mn> consult with the N.Z.E.T. upon certain phases. It is a great disappointment to me that the teachers’ salaries hav* to be reduced, but the stern necessity of the position has been forced on me. and 1 cannot well do otherwise. Tin distribution of the first £90,0:0 reduc tion will not mean a very large individual reduction.”

RAILWAY OFFICERS

BREAK OFF NEGOTIATIONS

WELLINGTON, Jan. 19

When the need for effecting economy in the running of the Dominion Railways Service was recently placed before the Railway Officers’ Institute by the General Manager, the members of the Institute took a ballot, and agreed to meet the Department by relinquishing, for a term, some of the it»j>roved conditions that have been granted them. A majority of members of the Institute favoured this course, in preference to having their salaries reduced. ft would appear that the Government has decided to reduce the salaries instead of falling in with the proposal adopted by the Institute, which was really a suggestion on the part of the Railway authorities themselves. Now that the Government have apparently decided to reduce the salaries of the Railway Officers, it may he taken for granted that the negotiations already commenced will be discontinued.

ANOTHER' PROTEST

GISBORNE P. AND T. MEN

GISBORNE, Jan. ID,

At ;i representative meeting of the Gisborne Section of the P. and T. Officers’ Association, the following resolutions were carried unanimously:— “That this meeting expresses in the strongest possible terms its indignation at the Prime Minister’s repudiation of bis promise made to a full conference in June, that. salaries would lie adjusted according with the rise and fall in the cost of living figures. Whereas there was over 12 per cent advance in the Statistician’s figures in September, 1920, and by which wc were entitled to a 10 per cent advance in wages, this advance was never paid us, although it is assumed that the present cut is made on that advance; whilst the adjustment was made at the time to our fellow workers who are registered under the Arbitration Act. The only way to restore our confidence i- ( to rectify this unjustifiable breach of contract.

“This meeting resolves that the curtailment is not justified by any actual reduction in the cost of living- By compelling the low wage-earners to contribute £4O in taxation; whilst granting g ten per cent rebate to the wealthy individuals, the Government’s action is nothing short of bias and oppressive. Such grievous treatment is calculated to bring about other measures in self defence.’’ AUCKLAND P. AND T. PROTEST. AUCKLAND, Jan. 19. A' meeting of the Auckland' section of the Post and Telegraph Association, at which 300 attended, voioed

strong protests against the reduction of salaries, and carried resolutions protesting- against the drastic character of the gut, which “involves a flagrant breaoh of faith by the Government’ ; also against the unjust rate of reduction. Another resolution elands special consideration, because retrenchment and economy have imposed special hardships upon the P. and T. officers to, date.

It was further resolved to strongly support any action the Dominion Executive may take.

A TORY IDEA

WELLING TON, Jan. 13

The Prime Minister' was urged by Mr A. Hamilton (Awarna) to-day to take into consideration the urgent necessity of making the proposals of the Economy Committee in regard to the Public Service apply generally to all industries. Mr Hamilton suggested that ii a proportionate reduction took place in all wages the cost of living would come do.wn, with the consequence that wages would not he affected in purchasing power.

.\lr -vta,sse.v described tbe question as so comprehensive that he eoiild not reply to it straight oil. The Economy Committee’s proposals could only apply to salaries and wages paid bv the Government. It could not possibly apply to Arbitration Court awards. As for the Retrenchment Bill he thought .his questioner Would find it comprehensive enough for tire House to deal with.